Antiquity and geographic distribution of cranial modification among the prehistoric groups of F uego‐ P atagonia, C hile

Bibliographic Data

ID8317306
AuthorsMarta P Alfonso‐Durrruty (Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Kansas State University, Osteology Laboratory 008 Waters Hall Manhattan KS, corresponding author), Bretton T Giles (Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Kansas State University, Osteology Laboratory 008 Waters Hall Manhattan KS), Nicole Misarti (0000-0003-2232-0964, Water and Environmental Research Center (WERC) University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 458 Duckering, WERC, University of Alaska Fairbanks AK), Manuel San Román (0000-0002-6845-6616, Centro de Estudios del Hombre Austral Instituto de la Patagonia, Universidad de Magallanes Ave. Manuel Bulnes 01890 Punta Arenas Chile), Flavia Morello (0000-0001-6379-7342, Centro de Estudios del Hombre Austral Instituto de la Patagonia, Universidad de Magallanes Ave. Manuel Bulnes 01890 Punta Arenas Chile)
Year2015
Volume158
Issue4
Pages607-623
Publication date2015-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.22832
PMID26301877
OpenAlexW1874977662
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited53

OBJECTIVES: Nineteenth and twentieth century documents testify that four ethnic groups, generally classified as terrestrial hunters or canoe nomads, inhabited Fuego-Patagonia. Archaeologically, however, their presence and temporal depth remains unknown. This study analyzes the antiquity and geographic distribution of cranial modification, a highly visible symbol of social identity, in Fuego-Patagonia, Chile, to assess whether it expressed ethnic affiliation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 adult skulls from Southern Patagonia (n = 32; 53.3%) and Tierra del Fuego (n = 28; 46.7%) were examined for age-at-death, sex and cranial modification with standard methods. Individuals were further categorized as terrestrial (n = 26; 43.3%), marine (n = 21; 35%) or indetermined hunter-gatherers (n = 13; 21.7%) based on the archaeological site's characteristics, geographic location, and isotopic information. RESULTS: Thirty percent (n = 18) of the skulls in this study were modified, and most of the modified skulls (n = 15) presented a tabular-erect shape. No statistically significant differences were identified between Fuegians and Patagonians, males or females, or between the different types of adaptation and geographic locations. DISCUSSION: Thus, this Late Holocene, widely distributed practice, was not a reflection of ethnicity, but a material expression of information circulation and the complex social relations that these small-size groups had with one another. These results suggest that the emergence of modern ethnic identities in the region is a historic process that resulted from the interaction of local groups with European and Criollos

Biology · Distribution (mathematics) · Evolutionary biology · Group (periodic table) · Prehistory · Stereochemistry · Chemistry · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Mathematics · Organic Chemistry · Paleontology · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology